A mum and daughter escaped injury after the family dog alerted them to a fire in their West Belfast home.

Emergency services were called to the home in Colinvale, Poleglass, shortly after 7.30am on Tuesday, September 22.

The fire, believed to have been sparked by a tealight candle, started in the kitchen.

The pair were warned of the danger in their home by the family dog and managed to escape but were taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.

The family pet was also taken to the vet to be treated for smoke inhalation.

A Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue spokesperson said: "A 26-year-old woman and her daughter were taken to hospital by ambulance to be treated for the effects of breathing in smoke after a fire in the kitchen of a terrace house in Colinvale, Poleglass, West Belfast on Tuesday morning.

"It appeared that a downstairs smoke alarm had been disconnected and there was insufficient smoke to cause an upstairs alarm to actuate.

"It also transpired that the family dog had alerted the occupants to the danger, however he suffered smoke inhalation and was also given oxygen by firefighters. A relative of the occupants was subsequently taking the dog to the vet.

"The supposed cause of the fire was suspected to be from a tealight candle."